The Fugitive

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, but uneven in tone
Review: Published in Indonesia in 1950, this very early novel by Indonesia's foremost author focuses on the final days of the Japanese occupation during World War II. The main character, Hardo, and two soldier friends had aided the Japanese in ousting the Dutch colonials who had ruled the country for years, their ultimate goal being the independence of the country. After becoming disillusioned by the Japanese, they had attempted a coup, only to have it fail because of betrayal by one of the men. The novel focuses on Hardo, running for his life ever since, in three encounters he has while disguised as a beggar, each encounter showcasing the conflicting loyalties within the country, and developing the suspense.

Though the novel is intriguing and its powerful descriptions of nature are absolutely stunning, it is strangely inconsistent in tone and feels stylistically fragmented. Hardo's first encounter, with his future father-in-law, is positively operatic, resembling a duet between wooden characters, their dueling voices swirling around almost like a canon. "Come to the house," the traitorous father-in-law says, echoing the invitation more than fifteen times, offering Hardo, disguised as a beggar, a variety of enticements, each of which he refuses. In the second encounter, with his own father, the operatic style dies, more communication takes place, and a narrative emerges. The third section, a meeting with co-conspirator Dipo, several others involved in the rebellion, Japanese officers, and the father-in-law is a fully developed theatrical scene, tying together the narrative and themes through dialogue.

With the novel's structure echoing a variety of genres and its characters subordinated to theme, I found it difficult to become emotionally involved with the characters themselves, however much I might have been sympathetic to their plight and fascinated by the subject matter. The novel clearly presages the greatness which comes to fruition in Pramoedya's later tetralogy, This Earth of Mankind, however, and I highly recommend it as an introduction to his more mature work.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, but uneven in tone
Review: Published in Indonesia in 1950, this very early novel by Indonesia's foremost author focuses on the final days of the Japanese occupation during World War II. The main character, Hardo, and two soldier friends had aided the Japanese in ousting the Dutch colonials who had ruled the country for years, their ultimate goal being the independence of the country. After becoming disillusioned by the Japanese, they had attempted a coup, only to have it fail because of betrayal by one of the men. The novel focuses on Hardo, running for his life ever since, in three encounters he has while disguised as a beggar, each encounter showcasing the conflicting loyalties within the country, and developing the suspense.

Though the novel is intriguing and its powerful descriptions of nature are absolutely stunning, it is strangely inconsistent in tone and feels stylistically fragmented. Hardo's first encounter, with his future father-in-law, is positively operatic, resembling a duet between wooden characters, their dueling voices swirling around almost like a canon. "Come to the house," the traitorous father-in-law says, echoing the invitation more than fifteen times, offering Hardo, disguised as a beggar, a variety of enticements, each of which he refuses. In the second encounter, with his own father, the operatic style dies, more communication takes place, and a narrative emerges. The third section, a meeting with co-conspirator Dipo, several others involved in the rebellion, Japanese officers, and the father-in-law is a fully developed theatrical scene, tying together the narrative and themes through dialogue.

With the novel's structure echoing a variety of genres and its characters subordinated to theme, I found it difficult to become emotionally involved with the characters themselves, however much I might have been sympathetic to their plight and fascinated by the subject matter. The novel clearly presages the greatness which comes to fruition in Pramoedya's later tetralogy, This Earth of Mankind, however, and I highly recommend it as an introduction to his more mature work.

Rating:
Summary: Pramodya continues his discovery of the human rationale
Review: The Fugitive was Pramodya's first major novel. It takes place in Indoneisa during the final days of WW II. It is a story about war, nationalism, betrayal and not least human rationale and feelings. It tells the timeless story of a soldiers return. It combines political and social criticism with a tautly emontional narrative. It is a gripping story allowing us to peak into a contemporary Indonesia and a time that was a turning point for the Indonesia we see today. Pramodya is a truly amasing author, and his books has been a true gift in adding another tool to understand the human rationale. I am looking forward to read new books by Pramodya, who is working on a collection of the history of Indonesia at present.